Lost and Found: The Prodigal Roasters Story

After a decade in the industry, Caleb Podhaczky almost gave up on coffee roasting for good. Now he’s back and beaming, ready to roast your next brew.

From the Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne, the U.S. and back again, Caleb’s coffee journey is testament to how life always finds a way of bringing us home to our first love:

“My first cafe job began in 2004. I fell in love with coffee, the industry and the people in and around it…”

A few years into the game, and brewing turned into roasting and competing. Now Caleb is a three-time Victoria Barista Champion (2010, 2011, 2013) and has 16 years of experience under his belt with the likes of Five Senses, Ceremony Coffee Roasters and Commonfolk Coffee Company.

But unlike his blends, Caleb’s road to Prodigal Coffee Roasters wasn’t all smooth and delightful:

“Coming back from the US I was suffering from some pretty severe mental health issues- depression, suicicide and alcohol addiction. I left the coffee industry after 10 years and tried a new career. Basically anything I loved, I pushed away. But gradually I started dealing with it all and I began getting healthy and happy again. I missed coffee and I missed roasting, so I got myself a job with the absolute legends at Phase Two in Balnarring. I chatted with my family and decided to get a little 1kg Probat for some fun roasting… and here we are!

Coffee and roasting keeps me grounded, driven and busy, and I bloody love it.”

With his relaxed, guy-next-door nature and killer positive attitude, Caleb’s roastery is more akin to being plentiful than prodigal. So why the name?

“There’s the story of The Prodigal Son who throws everything away to live a reckless life. He eventually hits rock bottom and comes to realise everything he sacrificed, so he returns to his home, humbled and full of gratitude. It speaks to my story”

Today Caleb continues to source, roast, brew and encourage everyone around him to enjoy his fresh, tasty, approachable coffee. He’s all about ‘delicious coffee for amazing people’ and recognises its power as a catalyst for bringing all kinds of people together.

When it comes to his roasting process, a perfectly balanced flavour profile is always at the forefront: “It’s all about the components: you only get out as good as you put in. I often go a sweet, juicy base coffee- maybe a Colombian or Guatemalan (broadly speaking!)- and then something light and snappy like a washed Ethiopian. That’s very simplified but ultimately, that’s it”.

Caleb’s most popular and personal favourite, ‘Steadfast’, is a sweet, tasty crowd-pleaser of a blend: “It’s banging as an espresso or with milk”.

So what’s on the horizon for Prodigal? Since their establishment in June last year Caleb and the team have been laying down roots in the Morning Peninsula, but it’s highly probable you’ll spot one of their delicious blends in Melbourne or further interstate down the track.

Wherever they end up, one thing’s for sure: Caleb’s love for people and coffee is here to stay.